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16

Section 4: Operation

POWER COMPOSTING

Power composting simply means tilling
under and burying in the soil all manner
of organic matter such as crop residues,
leaves, grass clippings and cover crops.
This material will decompose during the
non-growing season and add important
natural nutrients to the soil.

The first place to begin is with crop
residues such as leftover vines, stalks,
stems and roots.  Power compost these
crop residues as soon as they finish
bearing.  The sooner this is done, the

better, as tender green matter is easier to
till under.  Use the deepest depth regula-
tor setting possible without causing the
engine to labor or the tiller to jump ahead.

Standing cornstalks of reasonable height
can be power composted.  Pushing over
(but not uprooting) cornstalks will often
make it easier for your tiller to chop up
the stalks.  Keep the tines clear of exces-
sive tangling by “fishtailing” or frequently
using reverse.  Make several passes, then
return a few days later to finish off any
remaining stubble.

After tilling under crop residues, add
more organic matter such as leaves,
grass clippings and even kitchen scraps.
When tilled into the soil, this organic
matter will decompose and add even
more important nutrients to the soil.

After power composting, you may want to
plant a “green manure” cover crop to
protect the soil during the off-season. You
simply grow a crop of clover, alfalfa,
buckwheat, peas, beans, rye grass, grain,
or kale and then till it into the soil prior to
the planting season.

LOADING AND UNLOADING 
THE TILLER

• Before loading or unloading, stop the

engine, wait for all parts to stop moving,
disconnect the spark plug wire and let
the engine and muffler cool.  Remove
the ignition key on electric start models.

• The tiller is too heavy (over 170 lbs.,

depending on model) and bulky to lift
safely by one person. Two or more
people should share the load.

• Use sturdy ramps and manually (engine

shut off) roll the tiller into and out of the
vehicle.  Two or more people are needed
to do this.

• Ramps must be strong enough to

support the combined weight of the tiller
and any handlers. The ramps should
provide good traction to prevent slip-
ping; they should have side rails to
guide the tiller along the ramps; and
they should have a locking device to
secure them to the vehicle.

• The handlers should wear sturdy

footwear that will help to prevent 
slipping.

• Position the loading vehicle so that the

ramp angle is as flat as possible (the
less incline to the ramp, the better).
Turn the vehicle’s engine off and apply
its parking brake.

• When going up ramps, stand in the

normal operating position and push the
tiller ahead of you.  Have a person at
each side to turn the wheels.

• When going down ramps, walk back-

ward with the tiller following you. Keep
alert for any obstacles behind you.
Position a person at each wheel to
control the speed of the tiller. Never go
down ramps tiller-first, as the tiller could
tip forward.

• Use wooden blocks to place on the

downhill side of the wheels if you need
to stop the tiller from rolling down the
ramp.  Also, use the blocks to temporar-
ily keep the tiller in place on the ramps
(if necessary), and to chock the wheels
in place after the tiller is in the vehicle.

• When the tiller is in the vehicle, prevent

it from rolling by engaging the wheels in
the wheel drive position (put Wheel Gear
Lever in ENGAGE).  Chock the wheels
with blocks and securely tie the tiller
down.

When power composting, do not keep
the Depth Regulator Lever at a deep
setting if the tiller jumps or bucks.

If jumping or bucking occurs, move the
Depth Regulator Lever down to one of
the shallower settings and then slowly
increase the tilling depth on later
passes. 

Failure to follow this warning could
result in personal injury.

WARNING

Loading and unloading the tiller into a
vehicle is potentially hazardous and we
don’t recommend doing so unless abso-
lutely necessary, as this could result in
personal injury or property damage.

However, if you must load or unload the
tiller, follow the guidelines given next.

WARNING

Summary of Contents for 663B-Pony

Page 1: ... arrester is used it should be maintained in effective working order by the operator In the State of California the above is required by law Section 4442 of the California Public Resources Code Other states may have similar laws Federal laws apply on federal lands A spark arrester for the muffler is available by contacting the service department at Troy Bilt LLC P O Box 361131 Cleveland Ohio 44136...

Page 2: ...ntenance of this unit you can seek help from the experts Choose from the options below Visit troy bilt com for many useful suggestions Click on Customer Support button and you will get the four options reproduced here Click on the appropriate button and help is immediately available If you prefer to reach a Customer Support Representative please call 1 800 520 5520 The engine manufacturer is respo...

Page 3: ...hoses If in doubt contact your telephone or utility company 6 Warning Handle fuel with care it is highly flammable and its vapors are explo sive Take the following precautions a Store fuel in containers specifically designed for this purpose b The gas cap shall never be removed or fuel added while the engine is running Allow the engine to cool for several minutes before adding fuel c Keep matches ...

Page 4: ...n hard or slippery surfaces Look behind and use care when backing up 17 Do not operate the tiller on a slope that is too steep for safety When on slopes slow down and make sure you have good footing Never permit the tiller to freewheel down slopes 18 Never allow bystanders near the unit 19 Only use attachments and acces sories that are approved by the tiller manufacturer 20 Use tiller attachments ...

Page 5: ... for replacements if any decals are damaged or missing Refer to the Parts List pages for decal locations and part numbers Figure 1 Location of Safety and Operating Decals TO AVOID SERIOUS INJURY READ THE OWNER S MANUAL KNOW LOCATIONS AND FUNCTIONS OF ALL CONTROLS KEEP ALL SAFETY DEVICES AND SHIELDS IN PLACE AND WORKING NEVER ALLOW CHILDREN OR UNINSTRUCTED ADULTS TO OPERATE TILLER SHUT OFF ENGINE A...

Page 6: ...ck Nut 8 2 10 32 x 1 2 Round Hd Screw 9 2 10 32 Nut 10 1 Cotter Pin not used 11 4 Plastic Tie Strap 2 not used Tools Materials Needed for Assembly 1 3 8 open end wrench 1 7 16 open end wrench electric start unit only 2 9 16 open end wrench 1 7 8 open end wrench or 8 long adjustable wrench 1 Scissors to trim plastic ties 1 Ruler 1 Small board to tap plastic knob on lever 1 Tire pressure gauge 1 Cle...

Page 7: ... engine is not running Before starting the engine the Wheel Gear Lever must be placed in the ENGAGE position see Section 3 for details STEP 3 ATTACH REVERSE CLUTCH CONTROL CABLE 1 Carefully unwrap the reverse clutch control cable H Figure 2 6 from its shipping position and route it up along the inside edge of the left side handlebar A knob and large hex nut I is installed on the cable 2 Insert the...

Page 8: ...head screws down through the marks on the control panel decal and securely attach the wheel gear mounting bracket using two 10 lockwashers and 10 32 nuts 3 Use a small board to tap the Wheel Gear Lever knob securely onto the lever 4 Secure the wheel gear cable and the reverse clutch control cable to the left side handlebar with two plastic ties S Figure 2 13 located about two feet apart Snip off a...

Page 9: ...helps to align the shift mechanism with the transmission wheel drive gears To shift to DISENGAGE freewheel move the lever rearward without rolling the tiller The wheels will roll freely when the lever is properly set in the DISENGAGE position FORWARD CLUTCH CONTROL The two interconnected levers B Figure 3 1 control the engagement of forward drive to the wheels and tines To Operate the Forward Clut...

Page 10: ...F free of the slots in the curved height adjustment bracket 4 Move the handlebars to the new slot setting and insert the raised keys on the keyed washer into the slot Tighten the height adjustment screw securely 5 Retighten the two screws at the ends of the handlebar ENGINE CONTROLS Refer to the engine manufacturer s Engine Owner s Manual included in the tiller lit erature package to identify the ...

Page 11: ... See Engine Owner s Manual 4 Check that all safety guards and covers are in place 5 Check air cleaner and engine cooling system See Engine Owner s Manual 6 Attach spark plug wire to spark plug 7 Fill the fuel tank with gasoline accord ing to the directions in the separate Engine Owner s Manual Follow all instructions and safety rules carefully Before operating your machine care fully read and unde...

Page 12: ...e tiller so it will be recharged during engine operation Make sure the battery cells are filled to the UPPER LEVEL line with elec trolyte 2 If the battery is dead or damaged remove it refer to Battery Removal and Installation in Section 5 and have it tested Before starting engine cover the terminal on the loose end of the positive cable with the insulated boot and secure it in place with electrica...

Page 13: ...e handlebar to move the tiller in the direction of the turn Figure 4 5 After completing the turn slowly lower the tines into the soil and increase the engine speed Stopping the Tiller and Engine 1 To stop the wheels and tines release the Forward Clutch Control levers or the Reverse Clutch Control knob whichever is engaged 2 To stop the recoil start engine move the Engine Throttle Control Lever to ...

Page 14: ...illing wet soil often results in large hard clumps of soil that can interfere with planting If time permits wait a day or two after heavy rains to allow the soil to dry before tilling Test soil by squeez ing it into a ball If it compresses too easily it is too wet to till Avoid making footprints When possible walk on the untilled side of the unit to avoid making footprints in the freshly tilled so...

Page 15: ...and try to avoid leaving footprints or wheel marks When tilling vertically try to make the first pass uphill as the tiller digs more deeply going uphill than it does down hill In soft soil or weeds you may have to lift the handlebars slightly while going uphill When going downhill overlap the first pass by about one half the width of the tiller B Terrace Gardening When a slope is too steep or too ...

Page 16: ... off roll the tiller into and out of the vehicle Two or more people are needed to do this Ramps must be strong enough to support the combined weight of the tiller and any handlers The ramps should provide good traction to prevent slip ping they should have side rails to guide the tiller along the ramps and they should have a locking device to secure them to the vehicle The handlers should wear stu...

Page 17: ...e transmission Figure 5 2 Lift the tine flap to service those screws CHECK TIRE PRESSURE Check the air pressure in both tires Deflate or inflate both tires evenly to 15 to 20 PSI pounds per square inch Be sure that both tires have the same air pressure or the unit will tend to pull to one side Figure 5 1 Lubrication points Before inspecting cleaning or servicing the machine shut off engine wait fo...

Page 18: ...temperatures and this expansion will provide an incorrect oil level reading 2 To check the gear oil level and to add oil if necessary refer to STEP 5 Check Gear Oil Level in Transmission in Section 2 of this manual B To Drain and Refill the Transmission The transmission gear oil does not need to be changed unless it has been contami nated with dirt sand or metal particles 1 Prop up the left side o...

Page 19: ...f operating in very dusty or dirty conditions Service the air cleaner as instructed in the separate Engine Owner s Manual SPARK PLUG SERVICE Inspect and clean or replace the spark plug after every 100 operating hours or annually Clean the plug and set the gap as described in the separate Engine Owner s Manual In some areas local law requires using resistor spark plugs to suppress ignition signals ...

Page 20: ...ollow Battery Storage instructions in this Section 5 Store unit in a clean dry area 6 Never store the tiller with fuel in the fuel tank in an enclosed area where gas fumes could reach an open flame or spark or where ignition sources are present space heaters hot water heaters furnaces etc BOLO TINES The tines will wear with use and should be inspected at the beginning of each tilling season and af...

Page 21: ...has passed A tension adjustment is required only if there is little or no reverse move ment when the Reverse Clutch Control knob is pulled out Checking and Adjusting Forward Clutch Belt Tension It is important to maintain correct tension on the forward clutch belt A loose belt will cause the tines and wheels to slow down or stop completely even though the engine is running at full speed A loose be...

Page 22: ...xtended spring length is correct 5 Tighten both jam nuts securely Checking and Adjusting Reverse Clutch Belt Tension Checking Reverse Clutch Belt Tension The reverse clutch belt D Figure 5 9 needs adjustment if the belt slips in reverse or if there is no reverse See Adjusting Reverse Clutch Belt below Adjusting Reverse Clutch Belt 1 Before adjusting the belt shut off engine allow the engine and mu...

Page 23: ...elt off the front of the trans mission pulley F Figure 5 19 7 Work the belt out from between the pulley and the frame around the trans mission cover spring then up and out of the machine Installing Forward Clutch Belt 1 Stop engine allow it to cool and dis connect spark plug wire before working near belts Also remove ignition key on electric start models 2 Remove the old forward clutch belt as des...

Page 24: ...ing near belts Also remove ignition key on electric start models IMPORTANT The forward clutch belt must be installed before the reverse clutch belt 2 Install the forward clutch belt see Installing Forward Clutch Belt in this section before installing reverse belt IMPORTANT The reverse belt has a V shape When installing the belt make sure that the widest flat side of the belt rides against the reve...

Page 25: ... the battery terminals with a wire brush to remove deposits Coat terminals and exposed wiring with grease or petroleum jelly to prevent corrosion Battery Failures Some common causes for battery failure are incorrect initial activation undercharging overcharging corroded connections freezing IMPORTANT These failures are NOT covered by your tractor s warranty Battery Removal and Installation When re...

Page 26: ... overheats 1 Engine cooling system clogged 1 Clean air cooling area see Engine Owner s Manual 2 Carburetor out of adjustment 2 See Engine Service Dealer 3 Oil level is low 3 Check oil level see Engine Owner s Manual Engine does not 1 Misadjusted throttle control cable recoil start model 1 See Engine Owner s Manual or Engine Service Dealer shut off Wheels and Tines 1 Improper use of controls 1 Revi...

Page 27: ...cratch lines in the seedbed for laying out furrows trenches raised beds etc eliminates the need for stakes string and measuring tape The row marker is adjustable in length from 28 to 49 3 4 allowing you to vary the width of the marked rows as required TILLER ATTACHMENTS The attachments listed below are available for your tille Contact your authorized dealer or the factory for current information M...

Page 28: ...r commercial institutional industrial rental or demonstrator purposes the COMMERCIAL warranty on the tiller is limited in duration to 90 days from the date of purchase USE WARRANTY This warranty does not apply to parts that have been damaged by accident alteration misuse abuse neglect improper maintenance vandalism theft fire water or damage because of peril or other natural disaster HOW TO OBTAIN...

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